American Rocket Society. Formerly American Interplanetary Society, its name was changed to avoid scaring conservatives and also because its experiments were not directed, strictly, to interplanetary flight but to terrestrial uses of rockets — e g JATO devices, antitank weapons, ktp. Several fans and pros have been high in the organization, however. Before the war, much pioneering experimentation was carried out on such problems as the most efficient fuels and the best shape for the combustion chamber. With the war and its sequelae the ARS ceased to sponsor experiments and became a lecture society; but its old Experimental Committee became the nucleus of Reaction Motors, Inc. As an educational organization the ARS has about 6000 members (1956). But the only private rocket research of any importance today is carried on by a couple of Los Angeles groups which have a test station in the Mojave Desert.

The American Rocket Society. Formerly the American Interplanetary Society, its name was changed in order to get support from conservative men, and the ARS's experiments, unlike the BIS's, are strictly not directed to interplanetary flight for the present, but to terrestrial uses of rockets, such as mail rockets, anti-tank rockets, and helping the takeoff of heavily loaded airplanes. Several fans and s-f authors have been high in the organization, however. Before the war, quite a bit of experimentation was carried out on such problems as the most efficient fuels and the best shape for the combustion chamber. A small ARS rocket set a speed record for self-propelled vehicles before it smashed up; but most experiments are performed on a proving stand fastened to the ground, with meters attached.